State Senator Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, wants to further restrict where and how public assistance recipients can use their benefits.

This proposed legislation for what Griffo calls “public assistance accountability” (S6071) would also establish a series of escalating penalties for each failure to comply with the laws and rules that govern the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, he said.

“These proposals are not meant to increase the challenges for those individuals who rely on public assistance,” Griffo said. “[My] intent is to encourage these recipients to wisely spend their benefits in ways that support them and their families, while also keeping them focused on the goal of finding employment that will allow them to once again become self-reliant.”

Since Governor Andrew Cuomo is now seeking to increase the income eligibility threshold so more families can qualify for SNAP benefits, Griffo says he believes now is also the right time to support his legislation calling for a stricter set of guidelines.

“Spending SNAP benefits on cigarettes and alcohol, or gambling and strip clubs, serves no purpose to help ease a family’s hardship, nor is it the best use of our limited taxpayer dollars,” Griffo said. “By also requiring these recipients to apply for employment, I believe this proposed legislation will help create the best opportunity for them to return to work and lift themselves and their families out of hard times.

“New York State does not have a uniform set of work requirements for SNAP recipients, nor does it impost strict limitations on what can be purchased with these funds.”

Griffo said his bill includes:

• Work requirement: All applicants for public assistance must apply in writing for three separate advertised jobs and provide the Department of Social Services with verifiable documentation of the applications. Documentation can be submitted either within one week before the application of benefits, or up to two weeks after.

• Penalties for non-compliance: By failing to comply with these work requirements, SNAP benefits must be terminated according to the following scale of penalties:

(1) First violation: Benefits terminated for the adult recipient

(2) Second violation: Benefits terminated for the adult recipient and their full family unit.

(3) Third and subsequent violations: Benefits terminated for the adult recipient and their full family unit for six consecutive months.

An adult recipient of SNAP benefits has the ability to appeal a sanction that would impact the full family unit by demonstrating through good cause why those benefits should not be terminated. Once a recipient complies with all rules and regulations, their benefits must be restored.

• Unauthorized spending: A recipient may not spend SNAP benefits available through an Electronic Benefits Transfer system – or EBT card – on tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, gambling or gaming activity, lotteries conducted by the state, bail or tattoos.

A SNAP recipient’s EBT card also may not be used for transactions at the following: (1) a liquor store, or any other store where 50 percent or more of its business comes from the sale of alcoholic beverages; (2) a gambling or gaming facility; (3) a strip club; and (4) a tobacco specialty store.

Furthermore, a SNAP recipient may not use their benefits outside New York State, and no more than 15 percent of a recipient’s monthly SNAP benefit may be withdrawn in cash.